Level winding drum



et. 4, 1949. w. M. BROWN LEVEL WINDING DRUM 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July24, 1945 l ll H Il bw Dm um. mw

INVENTR. WU//Ufe M @row/2 A TTO/:P/VEY.

W. M. BROWN Oct 4, 1949.

LEVEL WINDING DRUM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 24, 1945 INVENTOR. f/M.@rma/n @CL 4, 1949. W. M. BROWN www@ LEVEL WINDING DRUM 3 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed July 24, 1945 t INVENTOR. Wwf/ase JW. @fawn A TTOfP/VX PatentedOct. 4, 1949 IJEVEL `W'INDIN.G DRUM Wallace M. Brown, Seattle, Wash.,assignor to Kenworth Motor Truck -Corporation, Seattle, Wash., a`corporation of Washington Application July-24, 1945, SerialNo. 06,738

This invention relates to certain-new .and useful improvements ,in .aAlevel winding reel -or drum.

In the layering of :a cable strand on a `winding reel or drum, it hasheretofore been customary in accomplishing the level winding of thecable .to move the cable between -a pair of guide rollers `on areciprocating carriage l.that was lactivated by a screw vfeed deviceembodying crossed `spiral threads with a vfinger on the carriagetracking in such grooves, the latter being so :arranged as to effectreciprocatory :movements of lthe carriage when said carriage reaches7its limitl `of movement in opposite directions as vdetermined by thecarriage finger reaching the -end of 4the groove in the feed screw.

In apparatus .of the foregoing character, :it has been found that whenthe .basic .principal `of the nger andspiral groove feed is :embodied inrelatively light constructions, such as fishing line reels, highlyefficient rresults .are obtainable in the operation thereof, butwhensuch devicesare employed in heavier apparatus, .as in .cable windingdrums, resistant drag on the nger working in the feed screw produces.excessive wear on the finger.

It is therefore the primary object of .the present invention to overcomethe foregoing difficulties in the operation of a level windingdrum orreel, and in lieu of the linger .and .grooved rod feedfor the carriagewhich carries vtheguide rollers there is provided a structure of ,the.jack-screw feed type with a clutch mechanism render-edoperable byreciprocatory movements of the carriage .for effecting reverserotational directions of the feed screw.

A further object of the inventionis to ,provide a .level winding reel or.drum of .the Jforegoing character and one that is well .adapted formounting on a truck .and embodying .a jackscrew type of feed foreffecting ,reciprocatory movements of the carriage, andfurther providingspring devices and coacting trigger or latch Larms associatedtherewithand with the .clutch mechanism vfor driving the .feed screw,with .the loading of the spring devices .occasioned by reverse movementsof the .carriage being operative upon release of .a trigger arm forshifting the clutch and reversing the direction of rotation `of `thefeed screw.

With the above andother objects in view and which will become apparent`as .the :nature .of .the invention is better under-stood, thesame.consists inthe novel form, .combination and arrangement of ,partshereinafter .more fully described, .shown in 'the accompanying drawings,vand claimed.

.5 .Claims. (C1. 242-158) In the :accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a 'vertical cross-sectional uiewtaken on line I--I of Figure2, showing the level-.winding structure constructed .in .accordance with.the present invention, the same :being mounted :upon Yan automotive:truck that iis fragrnerrtarily illustrated,

Figure 2 is .a vertical Ilongitudinalsectional yiew .taken lon line.2-.2 -of .Figure il, the drum shaft broken away at oneiend,

Figure v3 is an enlarged fragmentary :tront elevational view of thetrip-.actuated 'clutch :control with ithe spring devices and .springloading varm-omitted,

Figure 4 isla verticalacross-sectional .viewztaken on line 4--4 ofFigure-:3,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top fplan'viewof the clutch 'control withfparts omitted, the 'better to illustrate the kick-springs -and thespring-loading arms and illustrating one of :the springs under.compression or loaded,

Figure 6 is an enlarged :sectional view illustrating `.the rotation Iofthe jack screw in ia clockwise-direction, and

Figure T1 `.is ea view similar Ato Figure `6 showing .the drive chain,passing over idlers `for -feffecting counter-clockwise direction ofrotation of the jack screw.

Referring more in detail to athe accompanying drawings and particularlyto lEigures -1 and 2,., the level winding drum is :illustrated asmountedupon an automotive truck, a part of which `is indicated-by thereference-character I0, `The frame structure carrying `the cable drumincludes asubframe having spaced side walls -I I .and I2 secured to @thetruck andan upper vframe structure comprising spaced side walls I3:between which lthe cable V.drum I4 is rotatably mounted by mea-ns ofashaft I5 `journaledinbearings Hi.

A mechanism supporting wall I1 rises from ithe sub-.frame and extends in/a direction :longitudinal :to the-drum shaft I5, being odset .laterallyWith'respect thereto Aas shown in Figure 1, and has .at each verticaledge end thereof a right angularly directed .relatively short verticalwall I8 and I9, respectively.

The .drum vshaft I5 is powered from a `suitable source and rotary motionthereof is communicated to a shaft -2IJ, hereinafter lreferred toas the.clutch shaft, which is 'journaled inthe walls I8 fand I9. Alignedsprocket .wheels .2i and 22 respectively carried by the drum `shaft fI'5Yand clutch shaft-20 -are traversed by asprocketfchain 23.

.A jpair -of :horizontally aligned shafts 2?! is journaled in the sidewalls II and I2 of the sub-frame, and the jack screw is likewisejournaled in said walls in a plane above the shafts 24 as illustrated inFigures 1 and 2.

Freely mounted on the shafts 24 is a reciprocating carriage comprising apair of spaced side Walls 26 with shaft bearings 21 interposedtherebetween and said walls 26 are connected together adjacent the upperends by a pair of cross walls 28 and 29. A pair of cable-guiding rollers30 is journaled on the carriage below the cable drum I4.

The operating mechanism for the jack screw 25 comprises a pair ofsprocket wheels 3| and 32 loosely journaled on the clutch shaft 2D andrespectively aligned with sprocket wheels 33 and 34 on the jack screw25. As illustrated in Figures 2 and 6, a sprocket chain 35 traverses thesprocket wheels 3| and 33, while the sprocket chain 36 that traversesthe sprocket wheels 32 and 34 also passes over idler sprockets 31 on theshafts 24 as shown in Figure 7 to effect reverse rotation of' the jackscrew 25.

The opposed spaced sides of the sprocket wheels 3| and 32 are providedwith clutch teeth 38 and 39, respectively, and the clutch member that issplined on the clutch shaft 26 between said sprocket wheels 3| and 32 isselectively engageable with these clutch teeth 38 and 39, with movementof the clutch member 40 in splined relation to the shaft 20 beingeffected by the forked operator 4| carried by a shaft 42 slidable at oneend in the wall I9 of the frame and slidably supported adjacent itsother end by a bearing 43 mounted on the wall I1 of the frame, the otherend of the shaft 42 being in communication with a clutch control device.

As shown more clearly in Figures 1 to 5, the clutch control devicecomprises a plate structure having a horizontal arm portion 44 providedwith end lugs 45 that are slidable upon a rod 46 secured at its ends inupstanding relatively short walls 41 rising from the side walls II andI2. A triangular plate 48 rises from the arm portion 44 with the upperend thereof having an adjustable turnbuckle connection 49 with theadjacent end of the shaft 42 that carries the forked operator for theclutch. A second pair of end lugs 50 is carried by the horizontal armportion 44 of the clutch control, while the shaft 5| mounted at its endsin said walls 41 extends through said lugs 50.

The connection between the jack screw 25 and the clutch control deviceincludes a box-like frame 52 extending between the side walls 26 of thecarriage and within which box-like structure the nut 53 is non-rotatablymounted, said nut having threaded engagement with the jack screw 25. Anupstanding arm 54 is secured to the cross wall 28 of the carriage andhas a sliding bearing head mounting 56 at its upper end upon the shaft5|, a pair of compression coil springs 56 and 51 being respectivelymounted on the shaft 5| at opposite sides of the bearing head andengaging at their outer ends with the end lugs 50 on the clutch controldevice. As illustrated in Figure 2, a latch arm 5B is associated witheach lug 56, being pivotally mounted as at 59 on the adjacent wall 41 inoverlying relation to the shaft 5I. Each latch arm 58 has a lingerprojection 60 for selective reception in a cross notch 6I on theadjacent lug 56.

In the operation of the level winding drum, it being understood that thedrum shaft I5 is powered and rotation of this drum shaft is communicatedto the clutch shaft 20, and assuming that the drum I4 is being driven inthe direction indicated by the arrow lines in Figures 6 and 7 to windthe cable thereon, the drive for the jack screw 25 with the clutchmember 40 in the position illustrated is through the sprocket chain 36,and with the latter traversing the idlers 31 the jack screw 25 isrotated in a counter-clockwise direction. This direction of rotation ofthe jack screw causes the carriage to move from the position shown inFigure 2 toward the left and during this movement the bearing head 55carried by the carriage moves over the rod 5I to compress or load thespring 56, the clutch control being restrained from movement toward theleft by means of the latch arm 58 having its finger projection engagedin the cross notch of the lug 50. The cable 62 travels over a pulley 63that is selectively attached by means of the clevis 64 to a shackle 65,two such shackles being illustrated and being selectively employed,depending upon the direction of travel of the cable 62. The guiderollers on the carriage direct the cable 62 onto the drum I4 and thelevel winding of the cable on the drum as illustrated in Figure 2 isaccomplished by reciprocatory movements of the carriage. With thebearing head 55 shifted by the carriage to the left, as viewed in Figure2, and with the spring 56 properly compressed, the bearing head at thistime engages the angular extension of the latch arm 58 to displace thefinger projection 60 from the notch 6| on the lug and permit thecompressed spring to shift the clutch control comprising the releasedlug 56, the arm 44, and the plate 481 connected to the shaft 42, thismovement shifting the clutch member 40 to disengage the same from theclutch 39 of the sprocket wheel 32 and bring the clutch into engagementwith the clutch 38 of the sprocket wheel 3| whereupon the sprocket wheel2| becomes active for driving the jack screw 25 through the medium ofthe sprocket chain 35 in a clockwise direction as illustrated in Figure6. During this movement the linger projection 60 on the latch arm 58will fall into the notch 6I of the lug 50 at the right hand side ofFigure 2. The drive for the jack screw 25 now being clockwise, thecarriage moves to the right for the compression and loading of thespring 51, similar operations taking effect when the bearing head 55engages the latch arm 58 at the right hand side of Figure 2 for therelease of the clutch control device.

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believedthat the construction and operation thereof will at once be apparent,and while there is herein shown and described the preferred embodimentof the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changesmay be made therein which do not depart from the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a level-winding drum, the combination with a cable-receiving drum:a clutch shaft driven with the drum; a reversely rotating jackscrewmounted with its axis paralleling that of the drum; a clutch splined onthe clutch shaft; driving wheels loose on the clutch shaft and coupledselectively to the clutch by oppositely directed end-Wise movements ofthe latter; a pair of dead shafts disposed to occupy positions adjacentand parallel to the jack-screw; a driving connection, including idlerwheels which are carried by each of the dead shafts, drive-coupling oneof the driving wheels to the jack-screw for driving the jack-screw inone direction of rotation; a driving connection drive-coupling the otherdriving wheel to the jack-screw for driving the jack-screw in the otherrotary direction; a carriage having means thereon for guiding the cableto the drum and itself guidably supported for reciprocatory slidingmovement by the two dead shafts; connection between the jack-screw andthe carriage for reciprocating said carriage; and tension devicescontrolled in their operation by movements of the reciprocating carriageand operable when the carriage has been moved by clutch-driven action ofone driving wheel to the carriages limit of movement in one direction tothen shift the clutch and bring the same into engagement with the otherdriving wheel.

2. In a level-winding drum, the combination with a cable-receiving drum:a clutch shaft driven with the drum; a reversely rotating jackscrewmounted with its axis paralleling that of the drum; a clutch splined onthe clutch shaft; driving wheels loose on the clutch shaft and coupledselectively to the clutch by oppositely directed endwise movements ofthe latter; a pair of dead shafts disposed to occupy positions adjacentand parallel to the jack-screw; a driving connection, including idlerwheels which are carried by each of the dead shafts, drive-coupling oneof the driving wheels to the jack-screw for driving the jack-screw inone direction of rotation; a driving connection drive-coupling the otherdriving wheel to the jack-screw for driving the jack-screw in the otherrotary direction; a carriage having means thereon for guiding the cableto the drum and itself guidably supported for reciprocatory slidingmovement by the two dead shafts, said carriage comprising spacedapartplates having bearings extending therebetween to accommodate the slidereception of the dead shafts; connection between the jack-screw and thecarriage for reciprocating said carriage; and tension devices controlledin their operation by movements of the reciprocating carriage andoperable when the carriage has been moved by clutch-driven action of onedriving wheel to the carriages limit of movement in one direction tothen shift the clutch and bring the same into engagement with the otherdriving wheel.

3. Structure according to claim 2 wherein the connection between thejack-screw and the carriage comprises a mating nut held against rotationbetween the plates of the carriage.

4. Structure according to claim 1 in which the connection between thejack-screw and the carriage comprises a mating nut, and wherein thecarriage provides a box-like frame accommodating removable insertion ofthe nut thereto and holding the nut stationary in relation to thecarriage.

5. In a, level-winding drum, the combination with a cable-receivingdrum: a clutch shaft driven with the drum; a reversely rotatingjackscrew mounted with its axis paralleling that of the drum; a clutchmember mounted on and driven by the clutch shaft; driving wheels looseon the clutch shaft, the mounting of the driving wheels and the clutchadmitting to relative endwise movement and said parts being so formed asto couple the clutch to one said wheel by said relative movement in oneendwise direction and to couple the clutch to the other said wheel bysaid relative movement in the other endwise direction; a pair of deadshafts disposed to occupy positions adjacent and parallel to thejackscrew; a driving connection, including idler wheels which arecarried by each of the dead shafts, drive-coupling one of the drivingwheels to the jack-screw for driving the jack-screw in one direction ofrotation; a driving connection drive-coupling the other driving wheel tothe jack-screw for driving the jack-screw in the other rotary direction;a carriage having means thereon for guiding the cable to the drum anditself guidably supported for reciprocatory sliding movementl by the twodead shafts; connection between the jack-screw and the carriage forreciprocating said carriages; and tension devices controlled in theiroperation by movements of the reciprocating carriage and operable whenthe carriage has been moved by clutch-driven action of one driving wheelto the carriages limit of movement in one direction to then shift theclutch and bring the same into engagement with the other driving wheel.

WALLACE M. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the lile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 674,670 Chamberlin et al. May 21,1901 762,838 Norton June 14, 1904 1,057,008 Phillips Mar. 25, 19131,447,033 Osborne Feb. 27, 1923 1,485,425 Myette Mar. 4, 1924 1,867,688Van Hook July 19, 1932 2,021,377 Poland Nov. 19, 1935 2,356,861 LinkAug. 29, 1944 2,365,654 White 1 Dec. 19, 1944

